Petalburg City was the largest settlement Jason had seen since arriving in this world.

  Where Littleroot had been a village and Oldale a small town, Petalburg was a proper city—not huge by the standards of his old world, but substantial. Buildings rose two and three stories high along paved streets. Traffic moved in organized patterns: pedestrians, cyclists, the occasional vehicle that ran on something other than gasoline. Parks and plazas broke up the urban landscape, green spaces where people and Pokémon gathered to relax, train, or simply enjoy the afternoon sun.

  The architecture was different from what he was used to—more organic curves, more integration with nature. Trees grew alongside buildings rather than in spite of them. Pokémon were everywhere: perched on rooftops, peering from windows, walking alongside their trainers on the busy sidewalks. A Beautifly drifted past on the breeze. A Machop helped a construction crew lift heavy materials. A Delcatty lounged in a shop window, watching passersby with regal disinterest.

  "Impressed?" Hana asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.

  "A little," Jason admitted. "It's... bigger than I expected."

  "Petalburg's a gym town. Draws trainers from all over the region." She gestured toward a large building visible in the distance, its distinctive architecture marking it as something official. "Norman's gym is that way. One of the strongest in Hoenn—most trainers don't challenge him until they have four or five badges."

  "I read about that. He specializes in Normal-types, right?"

  "Slaking, Vigoroth, Linoone. His full team is brutal." Hana glanced at him. "You're not thinking of challenging him now?"

  "No. I know I'm not ready." Jason looked down at Sprigatito, trotting beside him, and felt Ralts shift on his shoulder. "We need more training. More experience. Rustboro first."

  "Smart. Roxanne is a better starting point."

  They made their way through the city streets toward the Pokémon Center, which dominated one corner of a large plaza. The building was bigger than any Center Jason had seen so far—three stories, with what looked like training facilities attached to the side and a courtyard in the back. Trainers streamed in and out through the automatic doors, a constant flow of humanity and Pokémon.

  The plaza itself was bustling with activity. Vendors had set up stalls selling food, supplies, and trainer gear. A group of kids were having an impromptu battle in a designated area, their Pokémon clashing while onlookers cheered. A street performer's Kecleon was doing magic tricks, its color-changing ability making objects seem to appear and disappear.

  And then Jason saw them.

  He almost walked right past.

  They were just another group of trainers in a crowded plaza—a teenager with dark hair and a cap, a girl with brown hair and a red bandana, a younger boy with glasses, and an older teen with spiky brown hair. Nothing immediately remarkable about them.

  Except for the Pikachu on the first trainer's shoulder.

  Jason's brain short-circuited.

  That's a Pikachu. That's a Pikachu on a trainer's shoulder. That's—

  The trainer turned slightly, saying something to his companions, and Jason got a clear look at his face. Young, maybe fifteen or sixteen, with distinctive zigzag marks on his cheeks and an expression of eager enthusiasm.

  That's Ash Ketchum.

  The world seemed to slow down. Sound faded to a dull roar. Jason stood frozen in the middle of the plaza, staring at a person who shouldn't exist, who was a cartoon character, who was standing RIGHT THERE not thirty feet away.

  Ash Ketchum. Pikachu. The girl must be May—she's got a Torchic, I can see it peeking out of her bag. The kid is Max, her brother. And the older one is... Brock? Brock from Kanto?

  He was looking at the main characters of the Pokémon anime. In person. In real life. Actually real and actually here.

  "Sprig?" Sprigatito was looking up at him with concern, sensing his sudden spike of... whatever this was. Shock? Disbelief? The overwhelming urge to walk over and ask Ash how it felt to lose every single Pokémon League ever?

  Ralts trembled on his shoulder, catching his emotional turbulence. What's wrong? Why do you feel like that?

  Get it together, Cahill. You're standing in the middle of a plaza having a breakdown over anime characters.

  "Jason?" Hana had stopped a few steps ahead, turning back with a questioning look. "Everything okay?"

  "Yeah. Yeah, just—" He forced himself to breathe, to calm down, to act like a normal person who was definitely not having an existential crisis. "Thought I recognized someone, s it was a bit of a shock. But turns out it's nothing."

  But his eyes kept drifting back to the group. Ash was gesturing enthusiastically about something, Pikachu's ears perking up with interest. May was laughing at whatever he'd said. Max was rolling his eyes with the exasperated fondness of a younger sibling. Brock was... looking at a pretty girl walking past, which tracked with everything Jason remembered about his character.

  They're real. The anime is real. Or at least, something like it is.

  That raised questions he wasn't ready to deal with. Did that mean the anime events were going to happen? Team Aqua and Magma awakening the ancient Pokémon? The crisis at Sootopolis? Was Jason living in a world where Ash Ketchum would help save the day, just like in the show?

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  Or is it different? The games and anime weren't exactly the same. This world isn't exactly like either. What rules apply here?

  "Jason." Hana's voice was sharper now, concerned. "You're pale. What's going on?"

  "Sorry. Low blood sugar, probably. Long few days." He managed a weak smile. "Let's get to the Center. I need to sit down and maybe eat something."

  She didn't look convinced, but she didn't push. They continued across the plaza, and Jason very carefully did not look back at the group of trainers who had just shattered his understanding of what kind of world he was living in.

  The Pokémon Center was a welcome refuge from the crowded streets—and from Jason's racing thoughts.

  He checked them in, got rooms assigned (separate this time, since the Center had availability), and sat in the lobby while Nurse Joy took Sprigatito and Ralts for checkups. Hana had gone to file some Ranger paperwork at a nearby office, leaving him alone with his spiraling brain.

  Okay. Think this through.

  He knew this world had elements of both the games and the anime. Professor Birch existed—that was game canon. But apparently so did Ash, May, and Brock—anime canon. The regions were geographically similar to the games, but the Pokémon Centers and general technology felt more anime-influenced.

  It's a hybrid. Some kind of merged version of both canons.

  That meant he couldn't rely entirely on his game knowledge OR his anime knowledge. Some things would match his expectations. Others wouldn't. He'd have to pay attention, adapt, figure out which rules applied where.

  And if the anime events are happening... does that mean I should try to help? Or stay out of it?

  In the anime, Ash and his friends handled the Team Aqua/Magma crisis. They helped calm Groudon and Kyogre. They saved the day. Did Jason need to interfere with that? Could he even make a difference?

  You don't know if things will play out the same way. You don't know what might change. And you definitely don't know how to explain to a bunch of anime protagonists that you know the future because you watched their show.

  His head hurt.

  "Excuse me?"

  Jason looked up to find a young boy standing in front of him—maybe eight or nine years old, with dark hair, glasses, and an expression of intense curiosity. Behind him, at a slight distance, a girl with a red bandana was watching with an apologetic smile.

  Max. That's Max.

  "Your Pokémon," Max said, pointing toward the healing station where Nurse Joy was working. "The green one. I've never seen that species before. What is it?"

  Jason's mouth went dry. He was being asked a direct question by an anime character. This was fine. This was totally fine. He could handle this.

  "She's a Sprigatito," he said, his voice only slightly strained. "Grass-type. From Paldea."

  "Paldea?" Max's eyes went wide behind his glasses. "That's all the way across the ocean! How did you get a Paldean Pokémon in Hoenn?"

  "Long story. Involving an Aether transport crash." Jason glanced at the girl—May—who had drifted closer. "I found her in the woods near Littleroot. She needed help."

  "That's so cool!" Max was practically bouncing. "I've read about Paldean Pokémon—they have three new starters, right? Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly? And Sprigatito evolves into Floragato and then Meowscarada, which is Grass and Dark type, and—"

  "Max." May put a hand on her brother's shoulder, smiling apologetically at Jason. "You're doing the thing again."

  "What thing?"

  "The thing where you overwhelm strangers with Pokémon facts."

  "I'm not overwhelming him! I'm just curious!" Max crossed his arms defensively. "Besides, he has a super rare Pokémon. That's interesting!"

  Jason found himself smiling despite the surreality of the situation. Max was exactly like his anime counterpart—enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and completely lacking in social filter. It was actually kind of charming.

  "It's fine," he said. "I don't mind questions. And you're right—she does evolve into Meowscarada eventually. I'm looking forward to it."

  "I'm May, by the way." The girl stepped forward, offering a friendly wave. "And this is my brother Max. We're from here—Petalburg. Our dad runs the gym."

  I know, Jason thought. I know exactly who you are and who your father is and probably more about your future than you do.

  "Jason," he said instead. "I'm traveling from Littleroot. Working on the gym challenge."

  "Oh, cool! Are you going to challenge my dad?" Max asked eagerly.

  "Not yet. I've only got one badge's worth of experience. Well, zero, actually—I haven't challenged anyone yet." Jason shrugged. "I was going to start with Roxanne in Rustboro."

  "That's smart," May said. "Dad's really strong. Most people save him for later." She glanced over her shoulder, where Jason could see Ash and Brock waiting near the entrance. "We're actually about to head to the gym ourselves. My friend Ash wants to battle him."

  "Good luck to him," Jason said neutrally. "Norman's got a reputation."

  "We know, but Ash is really strong!" Max said. "He made it to the top eight in the Silver Conference. Although I still think my dad is stronger!"

  "I'm sure both Ash and your father are both plenty strong. I didn't mean anything by it." Jason held up his hands in a placating gesture. "Every gym is a learning experience, right? Win or lose."

  May nodded, her expression thoughtful. "That's a good way to think about it." She glanced back at her waiting friends again. "We should go. It was nice meeting you, Jason. Good luck with Roxanne!"

  "Thanks. Good luck with... everything."

  She smiled, grabbed Max's arm before he could ask more questions, and headed back toward Ash and Brock. Jason watched them go, his mind still reeling.

  I just had a conversation with May and Max. Anime characters. Real people now, but also fictional characters from my world.

  This is so weird.

  Hana found him an hour later, still sitting in the lobby, staring at nothing in particular.

  "You look like someone hit you with a Confuse Ray," she observed, settling into the chair beside him. "What happened?"

  "Met some people. Local kids." He shook his head slowly. "Just... a lot to process."

  "The city can be overwhelming after days on the road." Her voice was sympathetic but practical. "Did you eat? You mentioned low blood sugar earlier."

  He hadn't, actually. "No. I should do that."

  "I'll join you. I want to hear about your plans for Rustboro."

  They went to the Center's cafeteria, which was larger and better-stocked than the ones in smaller towns. Jason got food mechanically, his body going through the motions while his mind continued to spin.

  The anime is happening. Or something like it. Which means the big events are probably coming too.

  Team Aqua. Team Magma. Groudon and Kyogre.

  And I might be able to do something about it. Might be able to help. Or might just get in the way.

  "You're doing it again." Hana's voice cut through his thoughts. "The thousand-yard stare. What's going on in that head of yours?"

  Jason looked at her—this sharp-eyed Ranger candidate who'd been nothing but kind to him, who'd trusted him despite his obvious strangeness, who deserved better than his constant half-truths.

  "Just thinking about the future," he said. "About what's coming. About whether I'm ready for it."

  "No one's ever ready," Hana said simply. "You just do your best and adapt when things go wrong." She took a bite of her food, watching him. "You'll be fine, Jason. You're smarter than you give yourself credit for."

  If only she knew.

  "Thanks, Hana."

  They ate in comfortable silence, and Jason tried very hard not to think about anime protagonists and ancient legendary Pokémon and the weight of foreknowledge he wasn't sure he could carry.

  He failed, mostly.

  But the food helped.